Removable cylinder spindle of cylinder revolvers



2,863,248 Patented Dec. 9, 19 58 ice REMOVABLE CYLINDER SPIN DLE OFCYLINDER REVOLVERS Josef Koucky and Frantisek Koucky, Prague,Czechoslovakia, assignors to Konstrukta Praha, narodni podnilr, Prague,Czechoslovakia Application October 17, 1956, Serial No. 616,409 2Claims. (Cl. 42-59) The present invention relates to removable cylinderspindles of cylinder revolvers.

As is known, for the purpose of mounting and fastening the cartridgecylinder of cylinder revolvers use is made of a spindle on which thecartridge cylinder rotates during its action. This mounting must be veryprecise and relatively tightly fitting but at the same time it must becapable of being taken apart easily for the purpose of cleaning andmaintaining the weapon in good order. Since a revolver constitutes anexposed weapon in use, the cylinder spindle must be very satisfactorilysecured against loosening in view of the complete safety required of theweapon.

In the state of the art as known at present, however, the problem ofcomplete security and at the same time easy accessibility of thesecuring system still exists and this is due primarily to the nature ofthe weapon itself, since in a revolver the cylinder spindle is mountedat a point Where reliable securing can be effected only with difiicultyand manipulation when dismantling the weapon is also very difficultowing to the poor accessibility.

The object of the invention is to obviate these disadvantages, thisbeing achieved by constructing the cylinder spindle as a component partsecured in its functional position by two cooperating members one ofwhich, by being adjusted into the uncoupling position, causes thecylinder spindle to be initially pushed out of the weapon by the secondmember for the purpose of facilitating the removal of the cylinderspindle.

The proposed construction solves the problem of securing the cylinderspindle in such manner that the two conditions mentioned, namely goodsecurity and easy manipulation when dismantling the weapon, aresatisfactorily fulfilled. At the same time, a simple mechanism and asmooth unbroken surface of the weapon are retained, as are required inthis case in view of easy carrying, use and maintenance of the weapon. I

A specific embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of examplein the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are partial longitudinal sections of the weapon with thecylinder spindle in the secured and released position;

Figure 3 is a partially sectioned side elevation, the section beingtaken in the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is also a partially sectioned side elevation, the section beingtaken in the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing the cylinder spindle 1 carrying the cartridgecylinder 2 is mounted in the usual manner with its two ends in the frame3 of the weapon, to which is connected the barrel 4, and can be removedfrom the weapon by sliding it longitudinally towards the mouth of thebarrel. In the embodiment illustrated here the cylinder spindle 1 isconstructed as a component part secured in its functional position bytwo cooperating members. Said members are at the same time so conall)structed and arranged that one of said members, by its adjustment intothe uncoupling position, causes the cylinder spindle 1 to be initiallypushed out of the weapon by the second member for the purpose offacilitating the removal of the cylinder spindle. The first of saidsecuring members is formed by a segment head 5 of the front end of thecylinder spindle 1, which projects into a lateral recess 6 of the barrel4 (Figure 2), by which the cylinder spindle is secured against axialdisplacement and out of which the segment head 5 can be pushed byswinging it out to the side (Figure 4).

The recess 6 is so arranged and constructed that the head 5 of thecylinder spindle 1 in both its positions (Figures 3 and 4) ispractically completely concealed beneath the barrel 4 and projectsbeyond the lateral outlines of the weapon frame 3 only by part of itsrounded side wall, which is provided with a serrated manipulatingsurface. The cylinder spindle 1 can therefore be turned and be withdrawnfrom the frame 3 by means of the head 5. Since the head 5 of the spindle1 must be concealed at a place where manipulation is very inaccessible,the weapon is provided with a further member which facilitates itsremoval. Said member is formed by a spring loaded pin 7, which isslidably mounted in the frame 3, for example by means of a limiting pin,and is provided with a profiled head, in the present case a conical headas shown in Figures 1 and 2. The head of the pin 7 engages in acorresponding recess 8 in the rear of the segment head 5, which recessis so arranged that it 10- cates the secured position of the head 5 ofthe cylinder spindle 1 (Figures 1 and 2).

When the head 5 is swung outwards (Figure 4) from the secured position(Figure 3) against the pressure of the spring of the pin 7, it thuspasses out of engagement with the Wall of the recess 6 of the barrel,the profiled head of the pin 7 moving out of the recess 8 in the segmenthead 5. Immediately thereafter the strong spring of the pin 7 causes thehead 5 to be displaced out of the region of the recess 6 into a positionin which, in spite of the poor accessibility, it can more easily begrasped by the hand (Figure 2) for the removal of the cylinder spindle 1from the frame of the weapon.

As will be seen from the foregoing description, the entire securingmechanism is concealed in the weapon frame and therefore in no waydisturbs the smooth lines nor simplicity of the weapon. At the sametime, dismantling is facilitated in spite of the relatively pooraccessibility of the head 5, although only a small part of the latterprojects outwards for manipulation,

The arrangement described and illustrated represents only oneexemplified embodiment of the principle of the invention and cantherefore be modified in various ways without thereby departing from thescope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a cylinder revolver, the combination of a frame, a barrelextending forwardly from said frame, a cartridge cylinder fitting insaid frame, a spindle received in said frame to rotatably support saidcylinder within the latter, said spindle being removable axially forwardfrom said frame below said barrel, a segment head on the forward end ofsaid spindle, said barrel having a laterally opening recess in whichsaid segment head engages to resist axial removal of said spindle, saidhead being movable laterally out of said recess in response to swingingof the head and spindle about the axis of the latter, a spring loadedpin slidably carried in said frame parallel to said spindle andyieldably urged out of the frame to bear against the back face of saidsegment head, and said back face of the segment head having a detentrecess therein positioned to receive said pin when said head engages insaid laterally opening recess of the barrel so that said pin normallyyieldably resists swinging of said segment head out of said recess ofthe barrel and so that, tionof the head projects laterally beyond theadjacent side after movement of said head out of said laterally openingsurface of said frame. recess, said pin urges said spindle forward tofacilitate removal .of the latter from said frame. References Cited inthe file of this patent 2 In a cylinder rew ol v er, the coinbination asin claim 1; wherein said segment head -is-c6ncealed beneath said 5UNITED STATES PATENTS barrel both when engaged in, and whendisengagedfrom, 169,848 Rupertus Nov. 9, 1875 said laterally openingrecess; and wherein said segment 453,421 Caldwell June 2, 1891 head hasan arcuate edge portion with a serrated manipu- 530,730 S ith D 11 1894lating surface thereon, said head being dimensioned in 10 334 119 ZaiserApt 7 190g relation to said frame so that only said arcuate edge por-

